Lever-locking device.



R. 'RBINKE. LEVER Locxme DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1912.

1,1.028020 Patehted July 7, 1914.

FIGS.

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RGBERT REINKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LEVER-LOCKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1914.

Application filed August 16,1912. Serial No. 715,328.

17?) all 107mm, may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT REINKE, a citizenof the United States, residing at Chicago, .in the county of Cook andthe State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Lever-Locking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for locking it is more particularlydesigned to rovide a simple, convenient and efiicient devi e to securelylock the transmission control lever of an automobile in the neutral orinoperative position so that the automobile cannot be operated byunauthorized persons. A further object of my invention is to provide aclevice.adjustable in dimension, which can be used with various makes ofautomobiles; and a further object is to provide an effective lockingdevice which may be easily and quickly applied and which will notrequire attachment changing of any part of the car.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of thearcuate lever guide frame of an auton'iol'iile with its supports,showing a portion of the control lever locked in position with myimproved locking device. Fig. .Z is a top view, partly sectional,showing the lever locked in position in a single slot guide frame. F ig.3 is a similar top View showing the locking device applied to a guideframe of the H-slot type common on automobiles. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the locking device in a partly open position. Fig. 5 is afragmentary top view of a section line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

on the of my In the embodiment invention which I have selected forillustration the locking.

device is adapted for application to an automobile control lever 1,extending through an arcuate guide 2, which is fixed to the car and thelever.

3 is the slot in the guide through which the lever 1 extends; this slothas substantially vertical end walls 4:.

That form of my invention herein shown comprises two compound members Aand B, adapted when in position to extend from end to end of the guideslot and having forks 6 and 6 to engage the end walls thereof. One endof the member B is pivotally conat 7. Lugs 8 and i) on the members A.and B, respectively, C011 to the car or the bolt 15; the block 20carries also the lug 9,

of the guide slot,

and .18 will then lie adjacent to the walls of the guide slot whichlimits the movement'ot tain apertures 10 which, when the device is n aclosed or operative position, are brought into register with each otherand through them the bow of a padlock .is inserted; and a notch 11, inthemember' A, engages a stud 12 in the member B and aids in securingrigidity and strength in the device.

The method of constructing the members A and B which I prefer isillustrated in the drawings and may be described as follows: The block13 carries at one'end 2. lug 14, through which passes the pivot bolt 15;from the opposite end of the block 13 an arm 16 projects at rightangles, hearing at its end the lug 8 hereinbefore referred to. A portionof the arm 16 is offset and its inner side is serrated to engage asimilarly serrated side of the arm 17 the arms 16 and 17 are held inengagement by means of a setscrew 19. The block 20 carries an arm 21,offset and serrated like the arm 16, and having its end perforated forthe reception of the pivot before referred to, and 1 a setscrew' 22,adapted to hold in engagement the serrated sidesof the arms 18 and 21,as shown in Fig. 5. There'is'a double curve in each of the arms 17 and18 for the purpose of bringing their ends into alinement.

In use, when it is desired to lock the lever 1 in place, the device isfolded slightly on the pivot 15 and is applied to the lever 1 a littledistance above the guide slot; it is then moved downward, the arms 17and 18 do pending somewhat, until the lower prongs of have cleared theend walls when the members A and B are pressed into ali'nem'ent and thebow of a padlock inserted through the two apertures .10. The forked endsof the arms 17 end 3, the prongs serving to prevent the removal oflocking device from the guide slot; and the lever 1 will be held betweenthe blocks 13 and 20 ina position mi'dway of the guide slot.

By means of the setscrews 19 and 22 the members A and B can belengthened or shortened to adapt the device for use in slots of varyinglength. These set'screws can only be reached when the device is in anopen position.

My invention is not limited to the specific the forks 6 and. (3

details here shown, as varibus changes may made in the specificembodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. Ina lever locking device a single slotted lever guide; a levermovable therein; two pivatally connertul members adapted to embrace thesaid lever and having forked ends adapted to bear internally against theends of said guide; and means to lock the said members in a closedposition.

2:11 a lever locking device, a single slotted. lover guide; a levermovable therein; two piv-otally connected extensible members adapted toembrace the said lever and having forked ends adapted to bear internallyagainst the ends of said guide; and means for locking the said membersin a closed position.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a lever; a guideframe having a slot in which said lever moves; two pivotally connectedextensible members having forked ends adapted to bear against the endwalls of the said guide frame at opposite ends of the said slot, saidmembers being adapted to embrace the said lever and hold it in aposition midway of the said slot; and means for locking said members inposition.

4. In. a device of the class described,a slotted lever guide; a levermovable therein; a pivoted frame adapted to be clasped about said lever;means for locking said frame in a closed position; two forked armsextensibly connected with said frame and adapted to bear againstopposite ends of said lever guide; means for extending said arms, saidmeans being so disposed as to be inaccessible while the said frame islocked in a-closed position.

5. In a device of the class described, a lever; a guide frame having aslot in which said lever moves; two pivotally connected extensiblemembers having forked ends adapted to bear against the opposite endwallsof said slot; blocks forming with said members a, frame adapted toembrace the said lever; lugs on said members having a )erturcs whichregister when the said said lever; lugs on said members having iapertures which register when the said frame is in a closed position;and a padlock having a bow adapted to be inserted through said aperturesand locked therein.

7. In a device of the class described, a lever guide; a lever movabletherein; pivotally connected extensible members for embracing the saidlever and holding it against movement in any direction; and means forlocking said members against relative movement.

8. In a device of the class described, a lover, a guide frame having aslot in which said lever moves; members adapted to engage. the oppositeend walls of said slot and lock said lever against movement, and meansfor extending or shortening said members, said means including a setscrew so arranged as to be inaccessible for manipulation when the leveris locked'in position.

9. In adevice of the class described, in combination, a slotted leverguide; a lever movable therein; a pivoted frame adapted to be claspedabout said lever; means for locking said frame in a closed position;arms extensibly connected with said frame and adapted to bear againstthe ends of said lever guide; and set screws adapted to lock saidextenslble arms'to said frame and so disposed as to be inaccessible formanipulation'when said frame is locked in a closed position.

In testimony whereof I at'fix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT REINKE.

Witnesses:

Josnrir DoUeHER'rY, CHAS. J. MCHUGII.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

